Maybe We Could Call It the 'Tinkle Ticket'

Just about everyone who lives in Santee knows about - the outstanding recreational area built on and around the settlement ponds for the Water Reclamation system.

It’s even been named one of the by trade publications that specialize in rating things like that.

And, since 1999, it’s been operated completely independent of Padre Dam- not a penny of ratepayers’ money goes into supporting the facilities there- it lives or dies totally on what it brings in in car tolls, , , general store revenues, and grants that staff can apply for from outside sources.

In other words, the Lakes supports itself- completely.

Not only does the Lakes operation pay for the potable water it uses for drinking and sanitary facilities, just like we do in our homes, (AND at the same rates we pay), but the Lakes has to pay Padre Dam an “overhead fee” of $100,000 a year to handle the Lakes administrative work, such as Human Resources and Financial services.

Obviously, it all must work well- the Lakes attract some 650,000 visitors a year, both locals and visitors from all over the world.

As I said, just about everyone is happy about that.

But not everyone.

A person who lives here in our town has been emailing with a series of somewhat strident demands.

He (I assume it’s a he... might not be) seems to think that, since the water in the Lakes comes from the people who, uh..fill the Lakes, as it were, that Santee residents- and ONLY Santee residents,  should get free admission to the Lakes.

I guess the theory is that once you use your toilet at home, and flush it, that automatically gives you some ownership of those Lakes, and therefore the right to visit and use them freely- and for free.

Couple problems here that I can see..

Where do we draw the lines?

If you have company- visiting relatives, let’s say, from Keokuk, or Peoria, or wherever, and they use your facilities, do THEY then qualify for a freebie?

What about the people who spend a night or two in one of our local motels? One assumes they’ll have to, uh... relieve themselves sometime during their visit- does that give THEM a part ownership of the Lakes?

I’m just trying to be fair here, and also help the Lakes avoid discrimination lawsuits from those pesky outlanders- you KNOW you can’t trust those Zonies, right?

Even those Lakesiders have to be watched, you know?

Maybe this is heresy to some, but wouldn’t it be easier to just accept the $3 a day fee for a car during the weekdays, or $5 a car for all day during the weekend?

If financial straits are so bad you can’t afford that, there are three different entrances to the Lakes .

Do we really, truly need the peepee pass?